Tree replacements

Dear Editor:I have a suggestion to the Downey Public Works Department. The original trees that were planted along Lakewood Boulevard adjacent to the concrete sidewalks also included plastic root barriers that were supposed to prevent the trees from sending out surface roots that are causing the problems with the sidewalks. However, the trees were irrigated by a sprinkler head that sprinkles water on the surface, thereby causing the trees to send out surface roots. When I worked for the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation, we specified root barriers on all trees planted within six feet of any pavement. We also installed a 4-6 inch vertical PVC pipe within the root barrier. The pipe with bottom perforations extended to the depth of the excavated hole and was filled with gravel to allow the trees to be irrigated at the root level with drip irrigation, preventing the establishment of problem surface roots. John Wehrly Downey

********** Published: November 22, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 32